Card protecting device and method of making same



Ap 9, 1957- R. w. CARVER CARD PROTECTING DEVICE AND AMETHOD OF MAKINGSAME Filed sept. 21, 195s mvEN-roR oE/Pr M C14@ vs@ uw ATTO R N EY CARDPROTECTING DEVICE AND METHOD F MAKING SAME Robert W. Carver, Chatham, N.J.

Application September 21, 1953, Serial No. 381,407

6 Claims. (Cl. 15039) The present invention relates to in improveddevice for mounting and protecting documents, papers, cards and thelike, and to an improved method of producing such device. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an improved deviceproviding a protective sealed transparent covering for papers, cards andthe like which permits their folding along predetermined lines to affordeasy handling, carrying and pocketing thereof.

Papers, cards and similar articles which must be carried on the personand often exhibited, such as identification cards and papers, driverslicenses, permits, registration cards and the like, unless properlyprotected, are subjected to excessive wear particularly along foldlines, which reduces their legibility and necessitates their frequentreplacement. It has been common practice to embed such articles inclear, rigid, transparent organic plastic by sandwiching the articlebetween `two sheets of the plastic and applying sufficient heat andpressure to fuse the abutting faces of the plastic sheets. While thisordinarily provides excellent protection to the article, this practiceis not available when applied to large cards or papers, since theresulting device is likewise large, and may not be suitably folded topermit the convenient pocketing and carrying thereof.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved device for holding and protecting folded papers, cards and likearticles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved devicefor holding and protecting papers, cards and the like, permitting theirfolding for convenient handling and pocketing and carrying.

Still another object of the present invention-is to provide an improveddevice for holding and protecting papers, cards and the like in acondition permitting their folding for convenient carrying whilecompletely enclosiug the same to minimize wear and deterioration andprevent tampering therewith.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod of producing a protective sheath of papers, cards and likearticles, said sheath being foldable along predetermined areas andrelatively stili elsewhere.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved handy device for holding, protecting and preserving papers,cards and like articles in a condition permitting their convenientcarrying and simple frequent exhibition without excess wear anddeterioration of said articles.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing 'wherein Figure l is aperspective view of the component parts forming a preferred embodimentof the present invention prior to the fusion thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the component parts after assemblyinto the improved device hereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device in foldedcondition; and

nited States Patent ICG Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of amodification of my invention.

The present invention broadly contemplates a device of the characterabove described including a pair of laterally spaced panels formed of arelatively rigid organic thermoplastic material, and having a pair ofconfronting edges and a strip of relatively llexible organicthermoplastic material having its opposite edges fused to saidconfronting edges to form a unitary integral device delined by the rigidpanels hingedly joined by the flexible strip.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the panels are ofsimilar rectangular configuration having parallel confronting edgeswhich are connected by a flexible, plastic strip in the manner describedabove. A card, paper or other article foldable along a predeterminedline, or a pair of spaced cards, is embedded in the panels andconnecting strip (as in the case of a single large card, paper, etc.),the fold line being located in the center of the flexible strip andextending parallel to its longitudinal axis. In fabricating the improveddevice, the pair of panels of rigid organic thermoplastic material arearranged coplanar and laterally spaced, with confronting parallel edgesand a strip of exible thermoplastic material is disposed between thepanels with its side edges abutting the corresponding adjacentconfronting edges of the panels. A card, paper or the like of lessdimensions than the combined panels and flexible strip and having afoldable section, such as a fold line or area, is superimposed upon thepanels and strips entirely within their periphery, the fold sectioncoinciding with or falling upon the flexible strip. A second pair ofpanels and flexible strip is similarly arranged and superimposed uponthe card or paper in vertical coincidence with the first pair of panelsand flexible strip, and sufiicient pressure and heat applied to thelaminar assembly to fuse the plastic into a substantially unitary,integral mass, which is then cooled under pressure and thereafterremoved.

The result is a'card or paper embedded in a pair of rigid plastic panelsconnected by a strip of flexible plastic fused thereto to permit thefolding of the resulting device only along a predetermined section.

An alternative and highly advantageous method of producing the improvedfinal device includes the step of fusing the strip to and between'corresponding pairs of panels to preform the upper and lowerlaminations previous to sandwiching the card or paper between theseupper and lower laminations of panels and strips. Following thefabrication of the joined panels, the paper and card may be sandwichedbetween a pair of these, which are then fused as aforesaid.

Another method of producing the improved final device involves theembedment of a pair of cards each between a pair of panels, and thesubsequent joining of the sandwiches by a single strip of flexiblematerial.

Reference is now made to the drawing which illustrates a preferredembodiment of the present invention, and wherein reference numeral 10generally designates a card or paper of rectangular configuration havinga centrally located transverse fold line or section 12. The card 10 maybe a license, permit, identication card, or a card or sheet carrying anydesired intelligence, and is of a size which renders its pocketing andcarrying inconvenient unless it is folded. The car-d 10 is fullyembedded in and enclosed by a clear, transparent, organic thermoplasticfolder 14 which includes a pair of rigid side panels 16 of similarrectangular shape joined along corresponding parallel edges 18 by astrip 20 of flexible, organic, thermoplastic material preferably of thesame base as the material forming the panels 16, and edge-fused theretoto form a seamless joint. An example of a plastic which may be employedto great advantage is Vinylite, a vinyl acetate chloride copolymer. Thisplastic, as are many others, is commercially available in sheet formboth in rigid and flexible types. The card is so disposed in the` folder14 that the fold line 12 is located along the longitudinal axis of theflexible strip and is of such size as to fit within a plastic borderabout the edge of the card` 1(1.

In assembling the improved device in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, a conventional laminating press maybe used such as is generally employed in plastic laminating ofidentification cards and the like. Two rectangular panels 16, 16 of arigid organic themroplastic material are laid fiat upon suitable platesof conventional construction (not shown) so that their confronting edgesi3, i8 arc laterally spaced and parallel. A strip 26 of a flexibleorganic thermoplastic material of the same base as the panels 16, 16, ora thermoplastic material that will bind with or fuse to panels 16, 16,is placed upon the plate between the panels 16, 16 with side edgesabutting the confronting edges 13, 18 of the panels 16, 16. The card 10or other article to be embedded in the plastic folder is thensuperimposed upon the panels 16, 16 and strip 2i) with fold line 12extending along the longitudinal axis of the strip 2G. A second pair ofpanels i6, 16 and a strip 2t) of the same dimensions and properties asthe panels and strip 16 and 2i) are then laid over the card 1t) inthesarne arrangement as and in verticle alignment with the panels andstrip of the first pair.

Over the assembly of panels, strips and card is superimposed a secondplate. Several layers of plates and assemblies of panels, strips andcards may be piled up and the resulting stack placed in the laminatingpress where adequate pressure and temperature are applied through heatedplatens for a sufficient time to fuse the cards and plastic assemblyinto a unitary integral folder as earlier described, with the cardembedded therein and within the border 30. The stack is then cooled inthe usual manner while under pressure. The pressure may then be releasedand the nished improved folders removed from between the plates, fromwhich they are easily separated by virtue of the parting properties ofthe surfaces of said plates.

As a specific example, the panels 16, 16 and the strips 2() may beformed of Vinylite sheet, rigid and flexible types rcspectiveiy,0.010thick. The dimensions of the panels 16, 16 are 2%", the strips 2t), 1/2x 5", and the card 10 approximately 43,4" x 5%. The assemblies, withintermediate plates are stacked as many as six high and placed in alaminating press, whose platens are heated to a temperature of about3l03l5 F., and a pressure of approximately pounds per square inch isapplied to the plastic assemblies for a period of between 4 to 6minutes. During this period, the plastic is heated to its melting orsoftening point, and under the pressure the plastic assemblies arecompletely fused. The stacked assemblies are then cooled while underpressure. A similar procedure may be employed when other plastics arefused modifying the pressures, temperatures and times accordingly.

As an alternative method, the pair of rigid panels and flexible stripsmay be preassembled and fused by various means, and the cards may besandwiched between a pair of these assemblies and laminated or fused asabove recited. Thus, in preparing the preassemblies, a exible strip 20and a pair of panels i6, 16 arranged as above set forth are sandwichedbetween successive polished plates in a stack which is heated underpressure in a laminating press under similar conditions, to fuse eachset of panels and strip to form a simple folder. A card is thensandwiched between a pair of these folders and the assemblies fused andlaminated by following the earlier described procedure.

Another form of my invention, as shown ink Figure 4,

is achieved by sandwiching a pair of cards 40, 40 between and within themarginal edges or borders of a pair of rectangular, similarly sized andshaped sheets of rigid organic thermoplastic material 42, 42. Thesandwiches thus formed are placed in a laminating press with theirconfronting edges 44, 44, 48 spaced apart. An elongated narrow strip offlexible organic thermoplastic material 46 is then disposed between thesandwiches, with the side edges 48, 48 abutting` the confronting edges44, 44 of the sandwiches.

Thereafter, adequate pressure and temperature are applied, as abovedescribed, and the edge 44, 44 of said sandwiches are fused to the edges45, 48 of the iiexible strip d6 to form the assembly illustrated in Fig.4.

While there has been illustrated and described herein preferredembodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerousalterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof. Por ex ample, the inner and outer panels forming the assemblyof the folder' may be of different colors and of different degrees oftransparency.

Having described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. The method of producing an improved folding device comprising layinga first pair of laterally spaced, relatively rigid organic thermoplasticpanels and an intermediate abutting strip of relatively flexiblethermoplastic material upon the surface of a first plate, supcrirnposingupon said panels and strip a sheet of material having a fold sectioncoinciding with said strip, superimposing upon said sheet a second pairof panels and strip simi larly dimensioned, super-imposing upon saidarticle, panels and strips a second plate having a surface abutting saidsecond panels and strip and applying suilicient temperature and pressurethereto to fuse said panels and strips into an integral unitary foldercompletely encasing said sheet.

2. The method in accordance with claim l, wherein each of said pairs ofpanels and strip are first fused together before disposing said sheetbetween them.

3. A card protecting device comprising two panels, each formed of atleast two layers of relatively rigid plastic material sealed one to theother about the edges thereof, and a relatively flexible strip ofplastic material secured to corresponding edges of said panels wherebysaid panels are coupled one to the other and movable from a co-planarposition to a position wherein said panels overlie one another inaligned relationship.

4. A protective card device comprising a pair of panels of relativelyrigid transparent plastic material, a relatively tlexible strip ofplastic material joined along corre sponding edges of said panels toform a substantially unitary structure, a second set of spaced panels ofrelatively rigid transpareut plastic material, a relatively flex iblestrip of plastic material joining said second set of panels to form asecond substantially unitary structure and means sealing said structuresone to the other in overlying relationship to form said device into therela tively rigid composite panel members being flexibly joined andmovable from a co-planar position to a position wherein said compositepanel members overlie one another in predetermined alignment.

5. A method of producing an improved folding device comprising the stepsof disposing a pair of panels formed of relatively rigid organicthermoplastic material in laterally spaced parallel relationship inabutment with thc opposite longitudinal edges of a strip of relativelyflexible organic material, placing a flat article on said panels andstrip, disposing a second set of panels and a second flexible strip inabutting relationship overlying said article and in alignment with therst said panels and strip and then applying sufiicent temperature andpressure to fuse said panels and strips to fully encase said article.

6i A` protective device for flat articles comprising two coplanarlaterally spaced panels of relatively rigid organic thermoplasticmaterial, a strip of relatively tiexible organic thermoplastic materialintegrally fused to adjoining edges of said panels and a cover panel oftransparent sheet material individual to each panel sealed thereto inoverlying relationship, each of said cover panels cooperating with itsassociated panel to form individual means for the retention of saidarticles.

Talcott Oct. 16, 1883 Sauerwein et al Dec. 7, 1909 Cil 6 Trumbull Feb.28, Perry Mar. 26, Moulder Sept. 1, Sidell et al. June 19, Schade Dec.4, Haberstump Jan. 8, Holt et al. Jan. 16, Butler Mar. 20, Hess Aug. 21,Bergstein Mar. 4, Coyle et al. Sept. 1,

